Insider Beat: Catching up with @rutgers.missedconnections

Stepping onto the Rutgers—New Brunswick campus for the first time, there's a palpable energy in the air, fueled by the buzz of diverse, ambitious young adults and the promise of new opportunities.

But in the sea of tens of thousands of students spread out among five different campuses, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle. Whether it's a passing glance with someone on the bus or a group of students you overhear in the library discussing a niche topic you're passionate about, it can be hard to overcome the shackles of social anxiety.

By the time most finish their education at Rutgers, they're left with a degree, debt and their fair share of "what ifs."

Luckily, the Instagram account @rutgers.missedconnections has taken on the thankless task of uniting the student body, one slideshow post at a time. Not much is known about the social media account, aside from its adorable cat mascot. Yet it has become a campus favorite, currently sitting at nearly 15,000 followers and more than 1,500 posts.

In an interview with The Daily Targum, the account offered a snapshot into what it takes to curate a viral online presence and discussed its role within the Rutgers ecosystem.

While the account has become a key piece of modern Rutgers lore, it began with humble origins, like many internet personalities. The creators acknowledge that the idea of an account dedicated to connecting college students to spread positivity isn't entirely unique, but no one has executed it on such a large scale before.

The closest example they noted was isawyouatrutgers.com, a now-defunct, Reddit-esque message board that thrived around the early 2010s. While there's no concrete reason available behind the eventual dissolution of the page, the page had its fair share of struggles with moderation. In 2010, a user posted on the site to spread the word of a death threat on campus, an issue the site operator was unsure of how to deal with.

For @rutgers.missedconnections, a streamlined submission process addresses these concerns while focusing on its central mission — helping students feel a little less alone. Before a "missed connection" is posted, the team filters through it, ensuring there's no explicit or potentially harmful material.

"This isn't a page to harass or directly call people out by name," they said. "The goal is to have a place for people to feel connected to the Rutgers community in all of its glory."

The posting method has changed over time. The founders originally copied submissions from Google Sheets into a notes app and then took screenshots, but a growing fanbase has demanded some changes. They now use some programming and additional help to sift through all the responses, which can pile up.

"I'd say about 100 (a day) is the average," they said. "The most was probably around 250?"

Still, even with all the content they release, there are definitely certain kinds of posts that stand out. Some of the more popular entries on the account are the ones looking to reconnect with a special someone. 

The account manager commented that these are their favorites, as they believe they best align with the account's overarching objective. While most hopeless romantics in New Brunswick flock to Tinder or Bumble, the account administrator shared that they've had a few success stories.

"We've had people directly message us and thank us for connecting them," they said. "For ones that lead to relationships, we always ask them to invite the admins to the wedding."

Admittedly, it takes a bit of vulnerability to reach out to a stranger. But if you're looking to foster deeper connections, it's worth submitting a "missed connection" for that one person in class you never had the confidence to approach. Even simply scrolling through the account's extensive backlog, you might come across a like-minded individual.

If you'd prefer to stay anonymous with your submission, @rutgers.missedconnections also offers that option, and the account's direct messages are always open.

As the account manager put it, "There's nothing to lose!"